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wolfatthedoor
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Hi everyone,
As it was a rainy Sunday in Bristol, I spent the time running through my past Agent/Publisher rejections, as you do. And the reasons as far as they were given, went like this:
Your main character not interesting enough
Story too labyrinthine
Too disjointed
Character not focused
Too many side alleys
Good writing, but wouldn't be able to sell it (?)
One agent actually liked it, was even enthusiastic about it, (but charged £350 for the privilege of failing to sell it! I won't step into that hole again in this lifetime).
Since those dark days, I've rewritten a dozen times and hopefully addressed most of the complaints. I secretly doubt if many of them even read it, considering the number of MS they receive each month (in the hundreds). Personally I think the bottom line is, there are far more people writing than there are reading, and those few that do read serious novels can't afford to pay the huge prices for new hardbacks.
But maybe twas ever thus. I'm heartened by the oft-repeated stories of great authors who were endlessly rejected by their agents, if they got that far. (Thomas Hardy had to subsidize the publication of his first novel).
The message I get is: write with no expectation of ever being published. write regardless of what people tell you about how pointless it is. Write whereever and whenever you can find a corner; it doesn't need to be comfortable, and you don't really need to eat every day. And read everything you can find, because listening to language is the greatest teacher. In the end you'll win.
Thanks for listening.
Steve
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sulcus
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Quote: wolfatthedoor, Tuesday, 7 Jun 2011 14:16Hi everyone, As it was a rainy Sunday in Bristol, I spent the time running through my past Agent/Publisher rejections, as you do. And the reasons as far as they were given, went like this: Good writing, but wouldn't be able to sell it (?) Since those dark days, I've rewritten a dozen times and hopefully addressed most of the complaints. I secretly doubt if many of them even read it, considering the number of MS they receive each month (in the hundreds). Correct. At best you might get the intern reading your work. That's why it's called a slush pile, so many MSs pressing down on one another, they begin to melt... Personally I think the bottom line is, there are far more people writing than there are reading, you think so? Are you on the internet. Everyone is a writer in the whole world today and those few that do read serious novels can't afford to pay the huge prices for new hardbacks. Hardbacks? They can afford to read 99p e-books thoughBut maybe twas ever thus. I'm heartened by the oft-repeated stories of great authors who were endlessly rejected by their agents, if they got that far. (Thomas Hardy had to subsidize the publication of his first novel). The message I get is: write with no expectation of ever being published. Self-publishing? write regardless of what people tell you about how pointless it is. Write whereever and whenever you can find a corner; it doesn't need to be comfortable, and you don't really need to eat every day. And read everything you can find, because listening to language is the greatest teacher. In the end you'll win. Thanks for listening. Steve May I humbly recommend you move on with the times. What you say was true of maybe 10 years ago, but we are in the midst of a revolution in publishing, in how readers consume their literature, in how books are marketed and sold and produced.
This post was last edited by sulcus, 07 Jun 2011, 16:39
"A,B&E", "Not In My Name" and "52FF" (flash fiction anthology) all available on Amazon Kindle"How a psychopath makes sweet love. I can get you ringside. Royal box even."
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caz2108
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Quote: wolfatthedoor, Tuesday, 7 Jun 2011 14:16Hi everyone, As it was a rainy Sunday in Bristol, I spent the time running through my past Agent/Publisher rejections, as you do. And the reasons as far as they were given, went like this: Your main character not interesting enough Story too labyrinthine Too disjointed Character not focused Too many side alleys Good writing, but wouldn't be able to sell it (?) One agent actually liked it, was even enthusiastic about it, (but charged £350 for the privilege of failing to sell it! I won't step into that hole again in this lifetime). Since those dark days, I've rewritten a dozen times and hopefully addressed most of the complaints. I secretly doubt if many of them even read it, considering the number of MS they receive each month (in the hundreds). Personally I think the bottom line is, there are far more people writing than there are reading, and those few that do read serious novels can't afford to pay the huge prices for new hardbacks. But maybe twas ever thus. I'm heartened by the oft-repeated stories of great authors who were endlessly rejected by their agents, if they got that far. (Thomas Hardy had to subsidize the publication of his first novel). The message I get is: write with no expectation of ever being published. write regardless of what people tell you about how pointless it is. Write whereever and whenever you can find a corner; it doesn't need to be comfortable, and you don't really need to eat every day. And read everything you can find, because listening to language is the greatest teacher. In the end you'll win. Thanks for listening. Steve Aye up, Steve Sounds to me like you were very lucky to be given a reason why they weren't interested. Most of us get the bog standard email/rejection slip!!  But a really nice, positive message there at the end. Keep your pecker up!!! Caz
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castradeva
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Bernard Shaw had to self publish. Nobody wanted his work. Many famous others did the same.
Gone with the Wind failed to impress 28 publishers. Nothing ever changes.
Many stories are worthy of publication, one in a million might be a hidden gem.
Will an agent know it, possibly not.
Who you know, and how well you know them still matters.
Will a publisher take on the little gem. Not if his named guy or gal is just about to publish something similar.
Some old fart, past his seel by day is still the more reliable money spinner.
A potential unknown bestseller is a bad risk.
Publishers are desperate for new talent. Don't you believe it. Select one from the slush pile with a pencil, if it appeals to the cleaning lady give it the backing of a publicity campaign and voila-.
Go into a charity shop, 50p buys a classic, three for a pound or was it two?
If it is your turn for a day in the sun lady luck might shine. Usually it is tough shit, the merry go round will stop but not for you.
The moral if it aint fun, buy the kama sutra and try that instead. Instant gratification is better some say.
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Malcolm
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Quote: sulcus, Tuesday, 7 Jun 2011 16:35Quote: wolfatthedoor, Tuesday, 7 Jun 2011 14:16Hi everyone, As it was a rainy Sunday in Bristol, I spent the time running through my past Agent/Publisher rejections, as you do. And the reasons as far as they were given, went like this: Good writing, but wouldn't be able to sell it (?) Since those dark days, I've rewritten a dozen times and hopefully addressed most of the complaints. I secretly doubt if many of them even read it, considering the number of MS they receive each month (in the hundreds). Correct. At best you might get the intern reading your work. That's why it's called a slush pile, so many MSs pressing down on one another, they begin to melt... Personally I think the bottom line is, there are far more people writing than there are reading, you think so? Are you on the internet. Everyone is a writer in the whole world today and those few that do read serious novels can't afford to pay the huge prices for new hardbacks. Hardbacks? They can afford to read 99p e-books thoughBut maybe twas ever thus. I'm heartened by the oft-repeated stories of great authors who were endlessly rejected by their agents, if they got that far. (Thomas Hardy had to subsidize the publication of his first novel). The message I get is: write with no expectation of ever being published. Self-publishing? write regardless of what people tell you about how pointless it is. Write whereever and whenever you can find a corner; it doesn't need to be comfortable, and you don't really need to eat every day. And read everything you can find, because listening to language is the greatest teacher. In the end you'll win. Thanks for listening. Steve May I humbly recommend you move on with the times. What you say was true of maybe 10 years ago, but we are in the midst of a revolution in publishing, in how readers consume their literature, in how books are marketed and sold and produced. I think you may have missed the point, sulcus. Some people would like to be published, but they don't want it badly enough to become publishers. They'd rather just be writers. I think what the Wolfman is saying is that whether you're published or not, writing is its own reward. Rather refreshing to hear it, too, in this publishing-obsessed little world. And it is a little world, sulcus. Everywhere I go I see the same people, over and over. The fact is, there are far more people in the world who are NOT writers than people who are. Your perception that "everyone in the world" is a writer is indicative, perhaps, of too much time spent in this small community.
No stars. No charts. Just crits.
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DaiBach
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Quote: wolfatthedoor, Tuesday, 7 Jun 2011 14:16Hi everyone, As it was a rainy Sunday in Bristol, I spent the time running through my past Agent/Publisher rejections, as you do. And the reasons as far as they were given, went like this: Your main character not interesting enough Story too labyrinthine Too disjointed Character not focused Too many side alleys Good writing, but wouldn't be able to sell it (?) One agent actually liked it, was even enthusiastic about it, (but charged £350 for the privilege of failing to sell it! I won't step into that hole again in this lifetime). Since those dark days, I've rewritten a dozen times and hopefully addressed most of the complaints. I secretly doubt if many of them even read it, considering the number of MS they receive each month (in the hundreds). Personally I think the bottom line is, there are far more people writing than there are reading, and those few that do read serious novels can't afford to pay the huge prices for new hardbacks. But maybe twas ever thus. I'm heartened by the oft-repeated stories of great authors who were endlessly rejected by their agents, if they got that far. (Thomas Hardy had to subsidize the publication of his first novel). The message I get is: write with no expectation of ever being published. write regardless of what people tell you about how pointless it is. Write whereever and whenever you can find a corner; it doesn't need to be comfortable, and you don't really need to eat every day. And read everything you can find, because listening to language is the greatest teacher. In the end you'll win. Thanks for listening. Steve Never mind your stories, post your rejection slips.
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sulcus
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Quote: Malcolm, Friday, 10 Jun 2011 07:09Quote: sulcus, Tuesday, 7 Jun 2011 16:35Quote: wolfatthedoor, Tuesday, 7 Jun 2011 14:16Hi everyone, As it was a rainy Sunday in Bristol, I spent the time running through my past Agent/Publisher rejections, as you do. And the reasons as far as they were given, went like this: Good writing, but wouldn't be able to sell it (?) Since those dark days, I've rewritten a dozen times and hopefully addressed most of the complaints. I secretly doubt if many of them even read it, considering the number of MS they receive each month (in the hundreds). Correct. At best you might get the intern reading your work. That's why it's called a slush pile, so many MSs pressing down on one another, they begin to melt... Personally I think the bottom line is, there are far more people writing than there are reading, you think so? Are you on the internet. Everyone is a writer in the whole world today and those few that do read serious novels can't afford to pay the huge prices for new hardbacks. Hardbacks? They can afford to read 99p e-books thoughBut maybe twas ever thus. I'm heartened by the oft-repeated stories of great authors who were endlessly rejected by their agents, if they got that far. (Thomas Hardy had to subsidize the publication of his first novel). The message I get is: write with no expectation of ever being published. Self-publishing? write regardless of what people tell you about how pointless it is. Write whereever and whenever you can find a corner; it doesn't need to be comfortable, and you don't really need to eat every day. And read everything you can find, because listening to language is the greatest teacher. In the end you'll win. Thanks for listening. Steve May I humbly recommend you move on with the times. What you say was true of maybe 10 years ago, but we are in the midst of a revolution in publishing, in how readers consume their literature, in how books are marketed and sold and produced. I think you may have missed the point, sulcus. Some people would like to be published, but they don't want it badly enough to become publishers. They'd rather just be writers. I think what the Wolfman is saying is that whether you're published or not, writing is its own reward. Rather refreshing to hear it, too, in this publishing-obsessed little world. And it is a little world, sulcus. Everywhere I go I see the same people, over and over. The fact is, there are far more people in the world who are NOT writers than people who are. Your perception that "everyone in the world" is a writer is indicative, perhaps, of too much time spent in this small community. go out and have a gander on Twitter Malcolm. There's a f**k of a lot of writers out in the Blogosphere. I don't buy the distinction between a (self) publisher and a writer. If you choose to go down the self-pub route, then you do it because you want to be a published writer, not to 'run' or oversee a publishing empire. I took it that he does want to be published, but is sticking to the conventional model of subbing and that's fine. But I do think he wants it just as bad... Just for whatever reasons, chooses not to self-publish
"A,B&E", "Not In My Name" and "52FF" (flash fiction anthology) all available on Amazon Kindle"How a psychopath makes sweet love. I can get you ringside. Royal box even."
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Malcolm
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Quote: sulcus, Friday, 10 Jun 2011 09:25Quote: Malcolm, Friday, 10 Jun 2011 07:09Quote: sulcus, Tuesday, 7 Jun 2011 16:35Quote: wolfatthedoor, Tuesday, 7 Jun 2011 14:16Hi everyone, As it was a rainy Sunday in Bristol, I spent the time running through my past Agent/Publisher rejections, as you do. And the reasons as far as they were given, went like this: Good writing, but wouldn't be able to sell it (?) Since those dark days, I've rewritten a dozen times and hopefully addressed most of the complaints. I secretly doubt if many of them even read it, considering the number of MS they receive each month (in the hundreds). Correct. At best you might get the intern reading your work. That's why it's called a slush pile, so many MSs pressing down on one another, they begin to melt... Personally I think the bottom line is, there are far more people writing than there are reading, you think so? Are you on the internet. Everyone is a writer in the whole world today and those few that do read serious novels can't afford to pay the huge prices for new hardbacks. Hardbacks? They can afford to read 99p e-books thoughBut maybe twas ever thus. I'm heartened by the oft-repeated stories of great authors who were endlessly rejected by their agents, if they got that far. (Thomas Hardy had to subsidize the publication of his first novel). The message I get is: write with no expectation of ever being published. Self-publishing? write regardless of what people tell you about how pointless it is. Write whereever and whenever you can find a corner; it doesn't need to be comfortable, and you don't really need to eat every day. And read everything you can find, because listening to language is the greatest teacher. In the end you'll win. Thanks for listening. Steve May I humbly recommend you move on with the times. What you say was true of maybe 10 years ago, but we are in the midst of a revolution in publishing, in how readers consume their literature, in how books are marketed and sold and produced. I think you may have missed the point, sulcus. Some people would like to be published, but they don't want it badly enough to become publishers. They'd rather just be writers. I think what the Wolfman is saying is that whether you're published or not, writing is its own reward. Rather refreshing to hear it, too, in this publishing-obsessed little world. And it is a little world, sulcus. Everywhere I go I see the same people, over and over. The fact is, there are far more people in the world who are NOT writers than people who are. Your perception that "everyone in the world" is a writer is indicative, perhaps, of too much time spent in this small community. go out and have a gander on Twitter Malcolm. There's a f**k of a lot of writers out in the Blogosphere. I don't buy the distinction between a (self) publisher and a writer. If you choose to go down the self-pub route, then you do it because you want to be a published writer, not to 'run' or oversee a publishing empire. I took it that he does want to be published, but is sticking to the conventional model of subbing and that's fine. But I do think he wants it just as bad... Just for whatever reasons, chooses not to self-publish Take a walk in the real world, sulcus. There are a fuck of a lot more nonwriters. "For whatever reason..." I'm telling you ONE of the reasons a writer might not self-publish is because they just don't want it badly enough to get involved in marketing and publicity and all the bullshit that goes with publishing and selling a book. I'm not saying people who self publish aren't real writers. I'm saying that writing and publishing are two different things, and some people want to do one but not the other.
No stars. No charts. Just crits.
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sulcus
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Quote: Malcolm, Friday, 10 Jun 2011 15:34Quote: sulcus, Friday, 10 Jun 2011 09:25Quote: Malcolm, Friday, 10 Jun 2011 07:09Quote: sulcus, Tuesday, 7 Jun 2011 16:35Quote: wolfatthedoor, Tuesday, 7 Jun 2011 14:16Hi everyone, As it was a rainy Sunday in Bristol, I spent the time running through my past Agent/Publisher rejections, as you do. And the reasons as far as they were given, went like this: Good writing, but wouldn't be able to sell it (?) Since those dark days, I've rewritten a dozen times and hopefully addressed most of the complaints. I secretly doubt if many of them even read it, considering the number of MS they receive each month (in the hundreds). Correct. At best you might get the intern reading your work. That's why it's called a slush pile, so many MSs pressing down on one another, they begin to melt... Personally I think the bottom line is, there are far more people writing than there are reading, you think so? Are you on the internet. Everyone is a writer in the whole world today and those few that do read serious novels can't afford to pay the huge prices for new hardbacks. Hardbacks? They can afford to read 99p e-books thoughBut maybe twas ever thus. I'm heartened by the oft-repeated stories of great authors who were endlessly rejected by their agents, if they got that far. (Thomas Hardy had to subsidize the publication of his first novel). The message I get is: write with no expectation of ever being published. Self-publishing? write regardless of what people tell you about how pointless it is. Write whereever and whenever you can find a corner; it doesn't need to be comfortable, and you don't really need to eat every day. And read everything you can find, because listening to language is the greatest teacher. In the end you'll win. Thanks for listening. Steve May I humbly recommend you move on with the times. What you say was true of maybe 10 years ago, but we are in the midst of a revolution in publishing, in how readers consume their literature, in how books are marketed and sold and produced. I think you may have missed the point, sulcus. Some people would like to be published, but they don't want it badly enough to become publishers. They'd rather just be writers. I think what the Wolfman is saying is that whether you're published or not, writing is its own reward. Rather refreshing to hear it, too, in this publishing-obsessed little world. And it is a little world, sulcus. Everywhere I go I see the same people, over and over. The fact is, there are far more people in the world who are NOT writers than people who are. Your perception that "everyone in the world" is a writer is indicative, perhaps, of too much time spent in this small community. go out and have a gander on Twitter Malcolm. There's a f**k of a lot of writers out in the Blogosphere. I don't buy the distinction between a (self) publisher and a writer. If you choose to go down the self-pub route, then you do it because you want to be a published writer, not to 'run' or oversee a publishing empire. I took it that he does want to be published, but is sticking to the conventional model of subbing and that's fine. But I do think he wants it just as bad... Just for whatever reasons, chooses not to self-publish Take a walk in the real world, sulcus. There are a fuck of a lot more nonwriters. "For whatever reason..." I'm telling you ONE of the reasons a writer might not self-publish is because they just don't want it badly enough to get involved in marketing and publicity and all the bullshit that goes with publishing and selling a book. I'm not saying people who self publish aren't real writers. I'm saying that writing and publishing are two different things, and some people want to do one but not the other. Midlist writers with publishing deals still have to do the vast majority of their own promo. So it's ;little different from self-publishing in terms of that aspect of the job of being a writer. "Take a walk in the real world, sulcus. There are a fuck of a lot more nonwriters." Not at the present exponential growth rate. Everyone will be a writer in the developed world
"A,B&E", "Not In My Name" and "52FF" (flash fiction anthology) all available on Amazon Kindle"How a psychopath makes sweet love. I can get you ringside. Royal box even."
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Malcolm
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Quote: sulcus, Friday, 10 Jun 2011 16:02Midlist writers with publishing deals still have to do the vast majority of their own promo. So it's ;little different from self-publishing in terms of that aspect of the job of being a writer. "Take a walk in the real world, sulcus. There are a fuck of a lot more nonwriters." Not at the present exponential growth rate. Everyone will be a writer in the developed world What will be and what IS are not the same thing, sulcus, and I think you're smart enough to know that. If you sign a contract agreeing to do your own promotion, that's a choice you make, once again, based on how badly you want to be published. The writer's job is to write. Full stop. Anything more is optional. You only HAVE TO promote your book if that's what you're willing to do for publication. What kind of shit deals are these? Are you not paid upfront for your book? Is it not the publisher's money being earned back by sales?
No stars. No charts. Just crits.
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All Yesterday's Rejections
07 Jun 2011, 14:16
